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Madurai airport records its best domestic passenger traffic
Posted on: 01-Mar-2025
Madurai airport has recorded an all-time high in monthly domestic passenger traffic in January 2025, handling 1,16,539 passengers, a 45% rise from 80,603 Jan 2024. The previous best was 1,16,404, recorded in May 2018. According to Airports Authority of India, altogether 1,37,262 passengers, including international, flew through Madurai airport last month, a 34% increase from 1,02,056 in January 2024.
However, international passenger traffic saw a slight dip during this period, from 21,453 in Jan 2024 to 20,723 in Jan 2025. Despite this, overall monthly traffic is nearing the pre-Covid peak of 1,48,929 passengers, registered in May 2018.
While Madurai has emerged as a leader in domestic air travel, aviation experts point out that lack of a ‘Point of Call' (POC) status in bilateral agreements continues to hinder growth in international traffic. This restriction limits international operations to Indian carriers alone, unlike in Trichy where many foreign airlines operate. Four months after launching night operations, Madurai airport has received only one domestic night flight, a service between Chennai and Madurai, and no international flight.
S Rethinavelu, president of Agri and All Trade Chamber, said 18 airports including Trichy, Port Blair and Goa, were granted POC status in 2015 under the Open Skies policy for Asean countries. "It was a mistake to leave out Madurai, which has immense cultural and tourism potential. Trichy, which was included, is reaping the benefits, while Madurai continues to struggle," he said.
"In January 2025, Trichy handled only 48,165 domestic passengers but had a staggering 1,37,583 international passengers," says Mahendra Varman, a senior member of Madurai Infrastructure Development Group. According to him, since international carriers operate from Trichy, passengers have more travel options. Many from Madurai choose Trichy for their international journeys since it is just 100 km away, he said.
Aviation expert Mohammed Mustafa urged the govt to reconsider its stance. "Post-Covid air traffic boom should not be seen as a threat to domestic airlines. No domestic airline has come forward to operate international flights from Madurai so far. It is time to grant POC status and unlock the airport's true potential," he said.
Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president N Jegatheesan called for upgrading Madurai airport. "We fought hard to secure 24/7 operations, and the next step is obtaining international airport status. Currently, Madurai is classified as a customs airport, with only one POC — SriLankan Airlines. If it attains international airport status, foreign passport holders can receive visas on arrival, which is not possible now," he said.
Madurai MP Su Venkatesan told TOI that MPs from southern Tamil Nadu are actively pushing for POC status. "Next month, we are meeting civil aviation minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, who has assured us that the matter will be reviewed. We expect POC status within the next six months, along with international airport recognition," he said.